Timing light circuit



March 27, 1962 E. s. MARDEN TIMING LIGHT CIRCUIT Filed March 29, 1956 4 ERWIN s. MARDEN ATTORNEYS United States 3,027,489 TFMINGLIGHT'CIRCUIT Erwin S. Marden, Neiilsville, Wis, assignor to Auto-Test, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of -Illinois Filed Mar. 29, 1956, Ser. No. 574,776

7 Claims. (61. 315- 66) This invention relates generally to devices for observing the timing of spark ignition engines, and particularly to an improved device operable from one of a plurality of voltage sources.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved engine timing tester operable from one of a plurality of voltage sources.

A further object is to provide an improved timing light operable from one of a plurality of voltage sources .and characterized by the use of extremely simple switching arrangements for providing a voltage suitable for operatinga gas filled flash tube.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawing, which together describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

The drawing shows a circuit for an improved timing .light having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a pair of power leads 11 and 12 connected to one of two known 1 DC. voltage sources. For example, one such source may be of six volts, while the other may be of twelve volts, both such values being commonly used in passenger automobiles.- Other difierent and known voltage .sources are intended for use with the apparatus disclosed herein. Means are provided for interrupting a circuit including the power leads 11 and 12, such a circuit including a transformer 13 having a center-tapped primary 14 and a secondary winding 16. The circuitinterrupting means comprises a vibrating member 17 connected to the power lead 11 and cooperating with a fixed contact 18 connected by alead 19 to one end of the center-tapped prilmary winding 14, the circuit being completed through one-half the primary winding 14 by a lead 21 connected 1 to power lead, 12.

The vibrating member 17 also cooperates with a fixed 3,027,489 Patented-1M. 27,1952

The circuit interrupting means is of thesynchronous or rectifying type whereby the circuit interrupted, through the, primary winding 14 is concomitant with an interrupted circuit in the secondary winding 16 to, producera high voltage DC. output.

The vibrating armature 17 is connected by .a lead 32 to one end of the secondary winding 16. ,The vibrating member 17 is connected topinterrupt' a-circuit. through the secondary winding 16, and to this, end, the other end of the secondary winding 16 is connectedin .a circuit with a lead 33 and a contact 34 of an armature .36, of the, relay 28, and a lead 37 connected between. capacitors 38 and 39, capacitor 38 being connected bya lead v41 to. a'contact 42 at vibrating member 17, and; capacitor 39-being connected by a lead 43 to a contact'4'4 at vibrating member 17. The balance of the interrupting circuit in the secondary winding 16 includes the vibrating. member 17, contacts 18 or 22 and the. primary winding 14, and thence to the other power lead 12.

A buffer capacitor 46 is, connected across the secondary winding 16.

As has been explained, the relay. armature 36 is in position corresponding to a lower known. D.C...voltage being applied across power leads Hand 12,; and in the position shown gives a desired amplified voltage across the secondary winding 16 in accordance withthe .turns ratio between theprimary and secondary-windings of transformer 13.

In the position shown of the relayxarmature 36, the interrupted voltage across the secondary winding 16"causes each capacitor 38 and 39.to be charged at the-voltage developed across the secondary-winding 16. The;two capacitors 38 and 39 are connected in parallel with a capacitor 47, which has avoltage thereacrossi'whichis a sum of the voltages across capacitors 38, and 39. The energy stored in capacitor 47 is availablev -for rapid discharge between electrodes 48 and 49 of agaseous discharge tube 51. However, tube 51 will not discharge without the triggering impulse from a. suitably; disposed connected to the higher of the two known voltagesources,

contact 22;connected bya lead 23 to theother end of the center tapped primary 14, the circuit being com- 1 pletedthrough one-half the primary winding 14 by the lead 21 to the power lead 12.

Power for driving the vibrating member 17 is derived :.;froma driving coil 24 connected in a lead 26 branching -from.power lead 11, and connected in a circuit including the armature 36 will be moved from thecontact 34-10 a position against a contact '56 connected in a,1ead,57 connected at point intermediate the ends of theisecondary winding 16, so as to utilize buta portion-of the secondary winding 16, and to develop a secondary ,voltageicorresponding to-that developed when thelower of the two voltages is employed.

In cases where the higher voltage is twice the lower, one-half of the secondary. winding is connected when the relay moves armature 36 from position at contact34 to .position at contact 56.

an armature 27 of a relay 23, the circuit being completed past a contact 25 thereof and through a lead 28a, the

" Winding 14 and the lead 21 to the'other power lead 12.

'The relay winding 28 is connected inseries with leads 30 and 31 branching respectively from the power leads 1'1: and 12. t

In the position shown of the armature 27, the relay 28 is energized at the lower of the known D.C. voltages.

However, when energized at the higher of said voltages,

the armature 27 moves from its contact 25 to open the circuit thereat, but the driying coil 24 continues to be energized, a, dropping resistor 29 connected in'series the'rewith being providedto protect said-driving coil.

It will be observed that the circuit according to the presentinvention employs a simple transformer having a single primary whichis connected across the twoknown the lower known DC. voltage.

The same relay controlling the tappingof the second ary also causes suitable resistance to be inserted in series .with the. driving coil fortheinterrupting means for the impulse operable from'one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter means for actuating said vibrating member, relay means connected to said voltage source and having circuit controlling means operable to one position when said voltage source is of one value and operable to a second position when said voltage source is at a second value, a circuit including said operating coil when said voltage source is at the said one value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage is at said second value, said interrupter means including further contacts interrupted thereby in circuit with said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in the said one position to connectsaid secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts of said interrupting means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts, condenser means connected in circuit with said secondary winding and said further contacts for charging said condenser means, gas filled light means having a pair of electrodes connected to said condenser means, and a trigger electrode to control said timed visible impulse.

2, A timing light circuit forproducing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary Winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter means for actuating said vibrating member, means connected to said voltage source and having circuit controlling means operable to one position when said voltage source is of one value and operable to a second position when said voltage source is at a second value, a circuit including said operating coil when said voltage source is at the said one value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage is at said second value, said interrupter means including further contacts interrupted thereby in circuit with said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in the said one position to connect said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts of said interrupting means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts, condenser means connected in circuit with said secondary Winding and said further contacts for charging said condenser means, and gas filled light means having a pair of electrodes connected to said condenser means.

3. A timing light circuit for producing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter means for actuating said vibrating member, means connected to said voltage source and having cluding a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage is at said second value, said interrupter means including further contacts interrupted thereby in circuit with said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in the said one position to connect said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts of said interrupting means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts, and condenser means connected in circuit with said secondary Winding and said further contacts for charging said condenser means.

4. A timing light circuit for producing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said inter rupter means for actuating said vibrating member, means connected to said voltage source and having circuit con trolling means operable to one position when said voltagev source is of one value and operable to a second position when said voltage source is at the said second value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said op erating coil when said voltage is at said second value, said interrupter means including further contacts interrupted thereby in circuit with said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in the said one position to connect said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts of said interrupting means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts.

5. A timing light circuit for producing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit'including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter means for actuating said vibrating member, a circuit including circuit controlling means including said operating coil when said voltage source is at the said one value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage is at said second value,

said interrupter means including further contacts interrupted thereby in circuit with said secondary Winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in one position to connect said second winding in circuit with the said further contacts of said interrupting means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with the said further contacts.

6. A timing light circuit for producing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter :means for actuating said vibrating member, a circuit including circuit controlling means including said operating coil when said voltage source is at the said one value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage is at said second value, means for rectifying the voltage across said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in one position to connect said secondary winding in circuit with said rectifying means and being operable in the second position thereof to connect a portion only of said secondary winding in circuit with said rectifying means.

7. A timing light circuit for producing a timed visible impulse operable from one of two known voltage sources comprising a transformer having a single center tapped primary winding and a single center tapped secondary winding, means for forming a circuit including the primary winding of said transformer and either of said voltage sources, means for interrupting said circuit including a vibrating member and contacts interrupted thereby connected in said circuit, an operating coil for said interrupter means for actuating said vibrating member, means connected to said voltage source and having circuit controlling means operable to one position when said voltage source is of one value and operable to a second position when said voltage source is at the said second value, said circuit including a resistance in series with said operating coil when said voltage i at said second value, means for rectifying the voltage across said secondary winding, said circuit controlling means being operable in one position to connect the whole of said secondary winding in circuit with said rectifying means, and being operable in the second half position thereof to connect a portion of said secondary winding in circuit with said rectifying means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,819 Rosser Nov. 18, 1941 2,347,165 Aust Apr. 25, 1944 2,703,376 Board Mar. 1, 1955 

